4.1 Access to Full Range of Provider Options

Lead Agencies must provide parents a choice of providers and offer assistance with child care services through a child care certificate (or voucher) or with a child care provider that has a grant or contract for the provision of child care services. Lead Agencies are reminded that policies and procedures should not restrict parental access to any type or category of care or provider (e.g., center care, home care, in-home care, for-profit provider, non-profit provider, or faith-based provider, etc.). 4.1.1 Parent choice a. Identify any barriers to provider participation, including barriers related to payment rates and practices, (including for family child care and in-home providers), based on provider feedback, public comment, and reports to the Lead Agency: The following are barriers that have been reported to the Lead Agency: 1) low payment rates, 2) misinformation regarding the separation of church and state, and 3) the inability to suspend and expel children at will. Additionally, providers have spoken at the quarterly Arkansas Early Childhood Commission meetings on the challenges facing providers who accept subsidy. b. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through vouchers or certificates? [x] Yes. [ ] No. c. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through grants or contracts? [x] Yes. [ ] No. d. Describe how the parent is informed that the child care certificate allows the option to choose from a variety of child care categories, such as private, not-for-profit, faith-based providers; centers; family child care homes; or in-home providers: All families have access to OEC’s Consumer Education website, which allows them to search for child care statewide. The website is provided at the bottom of the child care application checklist and in the family's rights and responsibilities which are reviewed with each CCDF family during the initial interview. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The child care certificate provides information regarding the family’s selected CCDF Program Participant with the service authorization days, parent fees, service type, authorization start and end dates, care type, and absentee billing trimester totals per child.